Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, marked with *. Lily James has it pretty good, even aside from having both of Harry Potter’s parents’ names. She seems to have a knack for getting cast in the lead for movies that reimagine classics. First she had Cinderella earlier this year. Now we’ve seen the trailer for…

Your NaNoWriMo goal every year is to write 50,000 words. So how do you get there? Scene Cards For the Win! We’ve talked about creating characters. You’ve worked on your 7 Point Story Structure. Now you have to fill in all the blanks. This is where scene cards come in. Using Scene Cards Boiled down,…

There are more methods to plotting a story than I can count. This year, I’m trying a new-to-me method for planning my NaNoWriMo story: Dan Wells’ 7 Point Story Structure. Never heard of it? Neither had I. What is the 7 Point Story Structure? The 7 Point Story Structure helps chart the rise and fall…

Some writers say they don’t control their characters: they have lives of their own. Sometimes they run away from us and do things that surprise us. Creating Characters You don’t have to let your characters run away from you. Knowing their backstory, their motivations, and their flaws and weaknesses will help you get ready…

So after learning how to get started, you’ve decided you want to participate in National Novel Writing Month this year, eh? Well, here are your next steps. First Things First The first thing you need to remember about NaNoWriMo is that it’s going to be a first draft. It is NOT about having a picture-perfect…

It’s coming! Writers’ most loved, hated, and feared month is almost here: November. Years ago, in college, I had the time (and brain capacity) to participate in NaNoWriMo: National Novel Writing Month. Don’t ask me how I had time or brain capacity while taking classes and working 3-4 jobs; I couldn’t for the life of…

Downton Abbey might just be the best argument for writing your first draft on paper instead of a word processor. Here’s why. I don’t know why I’m still watching Downton Abbey. I could blame the show’s inexplicable allure on its ensemble cast of characters. I could also mention the lavish costumes, attention to detail, or…